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Joined April 2016
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Given most Aussie kids’ memories of Canberra comprise FIFO visits to the War Memorial, Art Gallery and Questacon if they were lucky, it may surprise to learn that growing up in the capital was actually pretty good.
So you’ve got this national footy competition, see, which runs for 25 rounds and 30 weeks with 16 teams, and it’s been going like this since 1999 and a bit before that in other configurations, and it’s been really quite successful.
So there was a thing called “World War I” though they didn’t call it that because they didn’t know there’d be a second one so they called it “The Great War”, the poor damned fools.
Saw some vision of the great Matty Bowen on the Twitters yesterday, and well – wasn’t he something?
Bob Hawke was nonplussed. He’d just gotten off a typically eloquent speech in front of a claque of media, and no-one had a question for him.
So there’s this Gary Larson cartoon in which a well-fed gorilla says to another gorilla: “You know, Sid, I really like bananas… I mean, I know that’s not profound or nothin’… Heck! We ALL do… But for me I think it goes much more beyond that.”
And so Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs did battle at ANZ Stadium Thursday night, and after a long (albeit ironically short) week talking about the two overlords of the respective squadrons, kick-off was a relief.
If Dragons fans weren’t aware before Thursday’s pulsating Anzac Day fixture against the Roosters, they would be aware now.
Greetings, Planet Rugby League, from the alien world of Melbourne, where the back page of The Age declares that “Daniher” is “on track for Anzac Day” and asks readers to consider whether “Buddy” is “untradeable”.
Tevita Pangai Junior, eh? Would you pay – give us your best Dr Evil – one million dollars for the big whacking meat man?
And just like that, rugby league is talking about expansion. Or relocation. Or both, or something.
Melbourne Storm play in jumpers so dark a shade of Navy blue they’re just about black. They should be in all black. Because that would indicate how bad–ass they are.
Well – Loz vs Gus, eh? Didn’t that escalate quickly.
Jack of the Jack de Belin thing yet? Me, too. But jeez – tumultuous and important day in League Land, and no argument.
Michael O’Connor’s phone rang as he was rolling around Noosa Springs golf course on a humid Wednesday in November. Noting the name on the screen, he looked at his mate in the cart beside him, and said: “I better take this.”
If rugby league was a person you’d describe him (and it would be a ‘him’) as equal parts star jock, mug lair and masochist.
According to scientists at NASA (who wouldn’t, one assume, have any reason make this up) there’s never been this much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the recorded history of the planet.
It’s hard to comprehend the level of naivety (at best) that led Kurtley Beale, Corey Norman, Dylan Napa and all the other sweating young fellows to take video of themselves doing dumb stuff for the amusement of their pals on encrypted WhatsApp chat, but there you go.
I didn’t say he couldn’t coach.
I said that he’s no lesser coach for a 25% record as an overall one of 66%.
I said that it’s his players that win games.
And Bellamy would agree.
And so would Bennett. And Sticky. And John Morris.
Coaches are important. Point was not so important to dominate the news cycle for a week because two blokes swapped jobs.
Bennett versus Seibold is less interesting than many, many, many things
That was the point mate – that during Origin and without his best players, his win record is a quarter. But with his best players it’s two-thirds. And he’s the same coach doing the same coachy things with the nuffies as the champions.
Bennett versus Seibold is less interesting than many, many, many things
And there’s the rub, for mine. Why’d they anoint that No.7 with the C and all the mega-bucks when he’s not the best 7 or C? I love Hooper. But Pocock’s just better. Just is.
Mick O’Connor? Start Pocock in the 7 and Hooper off the bench, thanks
Ha. Isn’t that true of all of us, Carl?
Mick O’Connor? Start Pocock in the 7 and Hooper off the bench, thanks
Sport can do stuff, like everyone. But the big picture is all the cars and smokestacks pumping rubbish into the air. It’s got to stop. We’ve got to get energy from the sun and wind, and the waves and stuff that doesn’t so root the atmosphere and environment, the thing otherwise known as where we live.
Hot enough (to cancel the Test match cricket) for ya?
NASA has no such graph. They could probably rig you up one based on the odds of you picking the card at the Valley, my tip about 8 million to one. That’s why bookies drive Mercedes.
Question: If they cancelled the Cox Plate one year because it was 47 degrees and horses might die, and the AJC and Chris Waller and, I dunno, Johnny Tapp said climate change was rooting racing, would that … affect you?
Hot enough (to cancel the Test match cricket) for ya?
Ha. You even look at it?
Here: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Evidence. Facts and stuff.
Hot enough (to cancel the Test match cricket) for ya?
I don’t know mate. I know it’s NASA. They have put up a graph. And they are Experts. I trust Experts from NASA over James from Forbes, and Investors.com, and Alan Jones, and every other screaching parrot beholden to big coal, and what have you.
I trust the Scientists. They have no reason to lie about it. They have not conspired all together to lie about it. Since humans began pumping shit into the sky, the planet’s getting hotter you only need measure glaciers to prove it. And it’s unprecdented in the last 650,000 years.
And NASA.
Hot enough (to cancel the Test match cricket) for ya?
Graph. Titled “How we know” https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Hot enough (to cancel the Test match cricket) for ya?
NASA scientists say it’s a Thing, and humans are causing it.
Hot enough (to cancel the Test match cricket) for ya?
Yeah I was surprised Renshaw didn’t get extended run.
If this were a timeless Test, Cheteshwar Pujara could bat until July
I remember that line … and how the pics illustrated the best way to walk off with dignity… had a picture of someone doing it, Greg Chappell I think: bat under the arm, take gloves off, get off. It was such a bible.
Roll on summer of cricket, roll on
Ha. Nice one. Worse things for sheets to smell like than cricket bat.
Roll on summer of cricket, roll on
That, Maxwell, is a horrible tale.
Ha. Fair to say it tested the premise that pain is not just an emotion.
Roll on summer of cricket, roll on
Nah mate, it was actually relatively light. Not a Hurricane. It was just a “twin-scoop”, I think, with Hookesy’s signature embedded in it. Cracking bit of willow.
Roll on summer of cricket, roll on
Ha. By interesting I believe you mean completely wrong, Paul, but thanks. And yeah Sutto’s a good fella. They love him down Maroubra. Reckon junior coach would be good role for him.
John Sutton: Peak Bunny
Ha. Blind hope! The best kind.
Go the V. Here is hopin.
But I’m afraid, my man, the Hot Broncs are gonna towel you up in Vegas.
First sits two points ahead of eighth. You pick a winner
Ha. Broncos premiership wouldn’t be a nightmare for me. Nor would Storm, not really. My team’s out the back door on Mad Monday the Daily Tele couldn’t even be bothered sending peeping toms to.
First sits two points ahead of eighth. You pick a winner
I’ll be here, Rook. And I’ll stand by “Saints are rubbish” until they aren’t. Hope they come good. Can’t see it.
Can you? Is there cause of optimism among the Red V people?
First sits two points ahead of eighth. You pick a winner
Yeah, you could make a case for the Dragons, but not a good one, for mine. Be laughed out of court. But then stranger things have happened. The Cows made the grand final last year without Thurston. Donald Trump’s president. People watch old mate the Beaver whatever his name is, Honey Badger, on a reality dating show. Kooky times.
First sits two points ahead of eighth. You pick a winner
True. Yet Griffin didn’t want it broken, presumably. Gus has exercised the option to break it, punt him and pay him out. And then the Tigers coach as a replacement, that the Tigers believe lacks integrity, presumably at least until they gain satisfaction, which could only come in the form of cash from Panthers world of pokies, and/or a better coach than Ivan. As Marina said: it’s business. I think bandying about Loyalty and Integrity in matters of business… they’re not words generally connected with business.
Breaking Bad: League contracts are signed in invisible ink
Hi mate. Thanks for the kind words. And yeah, good fellah is Matt. Check out May issue Inside Sport (Collingwood bloke on cover) and https://www.playersvoice.com.au/matt-mitchell-i-didnt-want-him-see-what-saw/.
On a mission: Matt Bowen and Matt Mitchell's Australian Story